Censure of European Commission
25 May 2005
DUP MEP Jim Allister is one of the sponsors of a motion of censure of the European Commission which will be the subject of an emergency debate this afternoon in the European Parliament, now that the motion has the support of over 10% of members.
The motion follows unsuccessful attempts to force Commission President, Jose Barroso, to make a declaration of interest in respect of gifts received by him from big business since coming into office. At the heart of the issue is a gift of a cruise holiday, valued at several thousand euros, from a billionaire businessman, who subsequently benefitted from 10M euro regional grant aid from the Commission. The motion is aimed at compelling the establishment of a public register of interest and gifts, such as exists in many member states.
Speaking in advance of the debate at a press conference with other sponsors in Brussels, Jim Allister said, "Just like Caesar's wife President Barrosa and all Commissioners must be seen to be above reproach. The diffidence until now to declare private gifts, which only breeds suspicion, must be replaced with clear and emphatic information and the putting in place of a proper system of transparent accountability. Hopefully today's debate will produce commitments to bring transparency to how Commissioners behave in their public office. If it does it will be thanks to the compulsion of this Motion rather than the sycophantic, grovelling speeches of the leaders of the main groups in this House, which we will doubtless hear this afternoon.
"I welcome the fact there are sufficient people in this Parliament prepared to stand up and be counted in demanding basic and transparent accountability."
